Dialogue

Mamet
is best known and most widely celebrated for his skillful use of dialogue,
which conveys the natural rhythms of the American idiom. Mamet's characteristic
use of dialogue is showcased in Reunion,
as the entire play consists of bits and pieces from one long conversation. The characters
speak in fits and starts, often not completing their sentences, repeating
themselves, hesitating, and jumping from one thought to the next without a
logical flow of ideas. This naturalistic dialogue perfectly expresses the
awkwardness and discomfort experienced by Carol and her father. The dialogue
indicates that these two people are essentially groping in the dark to find
some form of meaningful communication.

Dramatic Structure

Reunion is a one-act play, divided into
fourteen short scenes, which represent snippets of one long conversation
between two people. This series of scenes has often been described as short
bursts of dialogue. The effect of Mamet's...